Brian Loftin
Encyclopedia
Brian Loftin is a retired American soccer forward
and was the commissioner of the Xtreme Soccer League
which soon folded. He played one season in Major League Soccer
with the Tampa Bay Mutiny
, as well as several seasons in the USISL. However, his greatest fame as a player came in eight seasons of indoor soccer where he was a consistent scoring threat with the Kansas City Attack
and Milwaukee Wave
. He also earned earned twelve caps, scoring five goals, with the U.S. national futsal
team.
in 1993. After completing his collegiate eligibility in the fall of 1994, Loftin attended an open tryout with the Kansas City Attack
of the National Professional Soccer League. He impressed the coaches and was signed to a contract, becoming a regular on the Attack front line for four seasons. In 1997, he played for the Carolina Dynamo
in the USISL. In March 1998, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
selected Loftin in the first round (second overall) in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He played eight games for the Mutiny that season. He also played five games for the Charleston Battery
of USISL. In April 1999, he signed with the Milwaukee Rampage
of the USL A-League. He would play outdoor summer soccer with the Rampage through the 2000 season. He also signed with the Milwaukee Wave
of the NPSL and remained with them for four seasons before retiring in 2003. One of his most notable goals came in the Game 5 of the 2000 NPSL finals, in which Loftin executed a spectacular bicycle kick to score. In his last two seasons, the Wave played in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. Loftin also earned twelve caps, scoring five goals, with the U.S. national futsal
team between 1996 and 2000.
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and was the commissioner of the Xtreme Soccer League
Xtreme Soccer League
The Xtreme Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that began play in December 2008. Four teams from the former Major Indoor Soccer League participated in the first XSL season--- the Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition, Milwaukee Wave, and New Jersey Ironmen...
which soon folded. He played one season in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
with the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
, as well as several seasons in the USISL. However, his greatest fame as a player came in eight seasons of indoor soccer where he was a consistent scoring threat with the Kansas City Attack
Kansas City Attack
The Kansas City Attack, previously the Atlanta Attack and later known as the Kansas City Comets, were an indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. In its various incarnations the franchise played in the National Professional Soccer League from 1989–2001 and the...
and Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
. He also earned earned twelve caps, scoring five goals, with the U.S. national futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team.
Player
Loftin attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for two years where he was a 1992 All Patriot League soccer player. He transferred to the University of EvansvilleUniversity of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
in 1993. After completing his collegiate eligibility in the fall of 1994, Loftin attended an open tryout with the Kansas City Attack
Kansas City Attack
The Kansas City Attack, previously the Atlanta Attack and later known as the Kansas City Comets, were an indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. In its various incarnations the franchise played in the National Professional Soccer League from 1989–2001 and the...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He impressed the coaches and was signed to a contract, becoming a regular on the Attack front line for four seasons. In 1997, he played for the Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
in the USISL. In March 1998, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
selected Loftin in the first round (second overall) in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
The three-round 1998 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on February 1, 1998 at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Format:Major League Soccer held a professional player combine in Fort Lauderdale the last week of January 1998. On Saturday, January 31, 1998, the league held...
. He played eight games for the Mutiny that season. He also played five games for the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of USISL. In April 1999, he signed with the Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
of the USL A-League. He would play outdoor summer soccer with the Rampage through the 2000 season. He also signed with the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the NPSL and remained with them for four seasons before retiring in 2003. One of his most notable goals came in the Game 5 of the 2000 NPSL finals, in which Loftin executed a spectacular bicycle kick to score. In his last two seasons, the Wave played in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
. Loftin also earned twelve caps, scoring five goals, with the U.S. national futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team between 1996 and 2000.
Executive
In between his playing career with the Wave and becoming commissioner of the XSL, Loftin was the GM/CEO of the Chicago StormChicago Storm
The Chicago Storm is a team in the Ultimate Soccer League that began play in the 2004-2005 season as a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League.-History:The Storm played home games during its first two seasons at the UIC Pavilion on the west side of Chicago...
.